Carton and Blank thereof

ABSTRACT

A carton for foodstuff, in particular for pizzas or similar foodstuffs, comprises a bottom part ( 2 ) and a lid part ( 3 ). Each of these parts ( 2, 3 ) has a front wall ( 4, 5 ) and two side walls ( 6, 7, 8 ). Bottom part ( 2 ) and lid part ( 3 ) are joined together pivotally by a rear wall ( 10 ) so that these parts ( 2, 3 ) are pivotable for opening and closing the carton ( 1 ). To stack cartons stably on top of one another in a simple manner and to prevent jamming of cartons arranged one above the other, at least one front wall ( 4, 5 ) of the bottom part ( 2 ) or lid part ( 3 ) runs obliquely outwards corresponding to a free end edge ( 11, 12 ) of the at least one front wall ( 4, 5 ).

CROSS REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATIONS

This is a U.S. National Phase application under 35 U.S.C. §371 of International Patent Application No. PCT/EP2011/005177, filed Oct. 14, 2011, and claims the priority of German Patent Application No. 20 2010 014364.0, filed Oct. 15, 2010 both of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. The International Application published in English on Apr. 19, 2012 as WO 2012/048898 under PCT Article 21(2).

The invention relates to a carton for the temporary storage of a foodstuff, such as particularly a pizza or similar foodstuff. A generic carton is known for example from U.S. Pat. No. 7,051,919. The carton is folded from a blank and lies ready to accommodate, for example, a pizza or similar foodstuff. The pizza in a hot state is put into the carton which is then closed. Generally, a large number of such cartons are needed into which pizzas are continuously placed and, after closing the carton, for example, transferred to the customer.

An appropriate carton has a bottom part and a lid part. Each of these parts generally comprises a front wall and two side walls, which protrude appropriately from a bottom wall or a lid wall. For opening and closing the carton a bottom part and a lid part are joined pivotably together. The appropriate pivot joint is realised by a rear wall. In this way the bottom part and lid part can be arranged both in an essentially horizontal arrangement adjacent to one another, i.e. as an open carton, and one over the other, when the carton is closed.

When baking appropriate pizzas generally a plurality of pizzas are ready essentially simultaneously and must be placed into appropriate cartons. To achieve this, these cartons are arranged adjacently.

An arrangement of cartons of this nature next to one another requires much space which is often not available in the vicinity of an appropriate oven for pizzas. If open cartons are arranged one above the other, the resulting stack is not very stable or leads to the jamming of cartons stacked on top of one another.

The object of the invention is to stack cartons stably on top of one another in a simple manner and also to prevent jamming of cartons arranged one above the other.

The object is solved by the carton of the present invention. According to the invention at least one front wall of the carton runs from the bottom or lid part outwards to a free end edge of the corresponding front wall.

It is sufficient if, for example, the front wall of the bottom part runs obliquely outwards in an appropriate manner. Through this simple measure, stacking of appropriate cartons is possible in a stable manner without them becoming jammed.

Here, it is furthermore sufficient if only one appropriate end section of the front wall runs outwards with a slope of this nature.

It must be noted that generally the appropriate carton is already partly appropriately folded only in the region of the front walls of the bottom part and lid part, whereas the associated side walls are already partly defined only in the region of these front walls, whereas they can still be deflected elastically outwards in the direction of the rear wall.

In this way appropriately opened cartons can be stacked in a simple manner one on top of the other, whereby they are at least partly stacked nested in one another and without jamming.

In this connection there is the possibility that both front walls, both of the bottom part and of the lid part are sloped outwards by the same angle. However, it is also conceivable that, for example, one of the front walls is sloped outwards by a smaller angle than the other front wall.

Since the pizza is placed on the corresponding bottom wall of the carton, jamming of stacked cartons particularly in the region of the bottom parts is to be more expected than in the region of the lid parts. In order to be able to prevent jamming of this nature in a simple manner an upper recess is formed at least between upper end sections of the front wall of the bottom part and the associated side walls. This recess facilitates a further and particularly elastic outward pivoting of the appropriate front wall at least in the upper end section, which simplifies stacking of the cartons.

The upper recess can have different shapes, whereby it can be favourable if the upper recess has a width which increases in a direction towards the free end edges of the front wall and side walls.

A recess of this nature can for example be formed essentially V-shaped.

In order to obtain sufficient stability with a closed carton, it may be regarded as advantageous if the front wall has a two-part structure comprising a first front wall section and a second front wall section. The first front wall section is joined to the bottom or lid part. The second front wall section is joined pivotably to the first front wall section. In this way there is the possibility of folding the second front wall section relatively to the first front wall section into the carton interior and consequently obtaining a double-layered front wall.

In order to support the corresponding front walls in their sloped position the side walls can have oblique first end edges which are assigned to the corresponding front wall. A corresponding oblique angle of these edges is essentially equal to the oblique angle of the front wall. In this way the front wall is overall arranged obliquely, whereby this slope is supported by the corresponding oblique angles of the end edges of the side walls.

In order to be able to join the side walls to the double-layered front wall in a simple manner the corresponding end edge of each side wall can be joined to an end lug folded especially inwards. This end lug can abut an inner side of the first front wall section.

This means that the corresponding end lug is arranged between the first front wall section and the second front wall section of the corresponding front wall, whereby it can be inserted between them on folding the carton together.

The corresponding upper recesses are partly formed by the first recesses between the upper end sections of the end lugs and the side walls in order to provide an appropriate free space for the stacking of cartons arranged one above the other.

A further second recess is formed between lateral edges of the first and second front wall sections which on folding together the two front wall sections combine with the corresponding first recess to form the upper recess.

The corresponding oblique angles are in a range from 94° to 110° and advantageously can lie in a range from 98° to 104°.

When folding the second front wall section relative to the first front wall section, folding is simplified if the two front wall sections are joined together by means of an articulated strip. The front wall sections can be pivoted relative to one another about appropriate strip edges so that the second front wall section can be folded down in a simple manner towards the carton interior and relative to the first front wall section.

Lateral edges of the articulated strip can form a bottom of the second recess which is visible especially on the appropriate blank for the carton.

In the direction of the second recess the lateral edges of the front wall sections run obliquely outwards.

A free longitudinal edge of the second front wall section can have an appropriate protrusion which, with the second front wall section folded inwards, can be inserted into a groove in the bottom or lid part. In this way the arrangement of the second front wall section folded inwards is secured and the second front wall section essentially abuts the first front wall section from inside.

The corresponding groove can extend along a fold line which joins together the first front wall section and the bottom and lid parts. In this way close abutment of the first and second front wall sections is produced.

Good pivotability, for example, of the lid part relative to the bottom part and simple closure of the carton can be produced in this way if the bottom part and lid part are both pivotably joined to the rear wall. In this way a good horizontal arrangement of the open carton is produced in which essentially the rear wall can also be arranged horizontally.

In order to stabilise the closed carton in the region of the rear wall, the rear wall can have rear wall lugs which are especially pivotably joined to appropriate sideward rear-wall end edges.

The arrangement of the side walls of the bottom and lid parts can occur in a manner such that they can be splayed out elastically to the outer side of the carton especially during stacking. This splaying out is especially produced along the side walls in the direction of the rear wall with the carton open.

Through simple insertion of the appropriate end lugs, the side walls can however also be splayed outwards in the region of the front walls.

This splaying out of the side walls supports the jamming-free stackability of appropriately opened cartons.

End edges of the side walls, especially in the region of the rear wall, can be rounded to simplify closure of the carton.

It has already been pointed out that the second front wall sections can be fixed in the folded position. In an analogous manner the carton can also be at least partially secured in its closed position in that the first front wall section of the bottom or lid part has a locking extension which is appropriately aligned to the lid or bottom part with the carton closed.

In order to accommodate the locking extension in this closed position, the lid or bottom part appropriately can have a locking groove for insertion of the locking extension.

In order to prevent the hot pizza losing its crispness due to moisture that it produces and being detrimentally influenced in its consistency for consumption, the first front wall section can, for example, have two or more openings. Appropriate moisture can emerge out of the closed carton through these openings. With the carton closed the openings in the second front wall sections of the bottom and lid parts are aligned to one another.

However, in order to prevent cooling of the pizza occurring by means of these openings as well as the emergence of moisture, the openings of the first front wall sections in the direction towards the carton interior are covered by the second front wall sections.

In this way an adequate emergence of moisture is ensured, but excessive cooling of the pizza is prevented.

The invention also relates to a corresponding blank for the manufacture of the carton described above.

In the following, an advantageous embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail based on the figures enclosed in the drawing.

The following are shown:

FIG. 1 a perspective plan view from diagonally above onto a closed carton according to the invention;

FIG. 2 cartons stacked inside one another in the open position and

FIG. 3 a plan view of a blank for a carton according to the invention.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a carton 1 according to the invention. It is illustrated in the closed state. That is, a locking extension 52, which—refer also to FIG. 2—protrudes from a front wall 4 of a bottom part 2, is inserted into an appropriate locking groove 53 in the lid part 3. To the side adjacent to the locking groove 53 two further grooves 44 are arranged, into which protrusions 43 are inserted which are used for fixing a second front wall section 21 or 23—refer also to FIG. 3—in the folded state relative to the associated first front wall section 20, 22.

The carton 1 according to FIG. 1 is essentially cuboid and is used for the storage of a foodstuff, essentially a pizza or similar foodstuff. The relatively flat foodstuff is placed into the carton and can be transported by means of it.

Two openings 55 are formed in the first front wall section 20 of a front wall 5 of the lid part 3. They are covered from inside, i.e. from the carton interior, by the associated second front wall section 21, refer also to FIG. 3.

For further description of the carton according to FIG. 1 reference is made to the embodiment in FIGS. 2 and 3. The same parts are in each case described using the same reference numerals and are in part only explained in more detail in conjunction with one of the figures.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective plan view from diagonally above onto two open cartons 1 with one stacked inside the other.

Each of the cartons 1 has a bottom part 2 and a lid part 3. They are pivotable relative to one another, whereby the pivotability occurs by means of a rear wall 10. On this the bottom part 2 and lid part 3 are pivotably supported and joined to one another by it. On the ends at the side—refer also to end edges 48 and 49 in FIG. 3—rear wall lugs 46 and 47 are joined pivotably to the rear wall 10.

The bottom part 2 has appropriate side walls 6 and 7 as well as a front wall 4. The front wall 4 is formed from two front wall sections, refer to the first front wall section 20 and second front wall section 21. Analogously, the lid part 3 is formed from appropriate side walls 8, 9 and the front wall 5 in each case with the first front wall section 22 and the second front wall section 23. In addition the bottom part 2 and the lid part 3 also have appropriately a bottom part 57 and a lid part 58.

The upper end sections 15 or 16 of the front wall 4 of the bottom part 2 or of the associated side walls 6, 7 are separated from one another by the upper recesses 14. They are essentially V-shaped and in the direction towards the free end edges 18, 11 have increasing width 17. By means of this upper recess 14 at least the upper end section 15 of the corresponding front wall 4 or also of the analogous upper end section 16 of the side walls 6, 7 can be splayed outwards.

The corresponding front wall sections 20, 21 or 22, 23—refer also to FIG. 3—are joined together using an articulated strip 19. This forms an appropriately free end edge 11, 12 of the front walls 4, 5. The articulated strip 19 is interrupted approximately in the middle on the front wall 4 of the bottom part 2, whereby here the corresponding locking extension 52 protrudes from the first front wall section 20.

Furthermore, the first front wall section 20 or also the first front wall section 22 of the lid part 3 has two openings 54 respectively 55 which are spaced from one another. Towards the carton interior they are covered in each case by the second front wall section 21 respectively 23.

Along the side walls 6, 7 respectively 8, 9 it can be seen that they are also outwardly elastically deflectable in the direction of the rear wall 10. Together with the slope of the corresponding front walls, this supports the stackability of the opened cartons.

The stacked cartons 1 according to FIG. 2 are placed ready for filling with pizzas, so that appropriately in each case a pizza can be placed in position on the bottom wall 57 once it has been produced. Then the filled carton 1 is removed from the carton stack still in the open state and closed, refer also to FIG. 1. In the closed state it can then be transported and in particular passed on to a customer. The open carton with the pizza in place can be easily removed from the carton stack without the stacked cartons jamming together.

FIG. 3 shows a plan view of an appropriate blank 56 for the manufacture of a carton according to FIGS. 1 and 2.

The blank for the bottom part 2 is shown appropriately in the right half of FIG. 3 and the lid part 3 is shown in the left half. The bottom part 2 comprises the bottom wall 57 with side walls 6, 7 protruding from it and a first and second front wall section 20, 21. Apart from the second recesses 32, 33 and the locking extension 52, the front wall sections 22, 23 of the lid part 3 are analogous to the first and second front wall sections 20, 21 of the bottom part 2. Two protrusions 43 are arranged—refer also to the second front wall section 21—along a free longitudinal edge 52 of the second front wall section 23. They can be inserted into corresponding grooves 44 with the second front wall section 23 folded inwards. This can be seen for example also in FIG. 1. An articulated strip 19 is arranged in each case between the two front wall sections so that they are pivotable relative to one another. Along appropriate strip edges 38, 39 the respective second front wall section 21 or 23 can be folded over the first front wall section 20 respectively 22 towards the carton interior.

Corresponding lateral edges 34, 35 of the front wall sections run at an angle outwards towards one another and in particular in the direction of the second recesses 32 and 33 on the front wall sections 20, 21 of the bottom part 2. The appropriate angle is for example 93°.

The respective first front wall section 20 or 22 can be folded relative to the bottom wall 57 or lid wall 58 about an appropriate bending or fold line 45, refer for example to FIGS. 1 and 2, whereby the grooves 44 or locking groove 53 appropriately extend along this bending or fold line 45.

An angle between this bending or fold line 45 and an appropriate bending line along the side walls is 90°.

The bottom wall 57 is joined to the lid wall 58 by the rear wall 10. At its end edges 48, 49 it has foldable rear wall lugs 46 or 47. The associated side walls 6, 7, 8, 9 are bent in the region of these rear wall lugs 46 and 47, refer to the corresponding end edges 50 and 51.

Oppositely situated end edges 24 or 25 run forwards at an angle in the direction towards end lugs 27 and 28. An appropriate oblique angle 13, 26 can be, for example, 101°.

The end lugs 27, 28 can be folded inwards, refer to FIG. 2, whereby they can be arranged between the front wall sections 20, 21 respectively 22, 23 and can be inserted into them, so that they abut an inner side 29 of the front wall sections.

The first recesses 30 respectively 31 are formed between the side walls 6, 7 and upper end sections 36, 37 of the associated end lugs 27, 28. They are essentially V-shaped and extend outwards, whereby the corresponding V tip is aligned to the end edges 24 or 25.

Between the first front wall section 20 and the second front wall section 21 in the region of their lateral edges 34 and 35, analogous second recesses 32 and 33 are arranged. They are also essentially V-shaped, whereby an appropriate V tip is formed by the end edges 40 or 41 of the articulated strip 19. In this way the second recess 32 or 33 has a bottom 59.

The second front wall section 21 can be folded inwards, refer to FIG. 2, by means of which appropriately the upper free end edges 11 or also 12—refer again to FIG. 2—are formed by the articulated strip 19. After the appropriate folding over or inwards of the second front wall section 21 relative to the first front wall section 20 the locking extension 52 protrudes, refer to FIGS. 1 and 2. With the carton closed, it can be inserted into the locking groove 53.

An appropriate angle between the bending or fold line 45 between the bottom wall 57 and the first front wall section 20 and the lateral edge 34 of the first front wall section 20 can be, for example, 93°.

The corresponding first recesses 30, 31 are delimited by the end edges 24, 25, which appropriately form the end section 16, refer to FIG. 2. The further end section 15 according to FIG. 2 is formed by the second recesses 32, 33 after folding the first front wall section 20 and the second front wall section 21 together.

From FIG. 3 it can also be seen that with the front wall sections 21 or 23 folded inwards they cover the corresponding openings 54, 55 of the first front wall sections 20 or 22.

It can also be seen from FIG. 3 that the corresponding side walls 6, 7 of the bottom part 2 are arranged offset inwards in the direction of the bottom wall 57 relative to the side walls 8, 9 of the lid part 3. The appropriate fold lines between the side walls and associated bottom wall or lid wall are also arranged mutually offset, whereby the side walls 8 and 9 of the lid part 3 protrude slightly further outwards and are essentially flush with the free end edges of the rear wall lugs 46 and 47.

Due to the corresponding slopes of the end edges 24 or 25, the front walls 4, 5 are also sloped outwards, refer in particular to FIGS. 1 and 2. Here, in particular in the region of the front wall 4 of the bottom part 2, there is the possibility in particular of widening the upper end sections 15 still further outwards. In this way overall the stackability of the opened cartons 1 without jamming is obtained, refer to FIG. 2. An analogous slope of the front wall 5 of the lid part 3 is also provided.

Furthermore, the corresponding side walls 6, 7, 8 and 9 can in particular be splayed elastically outwards in the direction towards the rear wall 10, refer also to FIG. 2.

In the following the use of the carton according to the invention is briefly described.

The cartons are kept stacked ready in an open position analogous to FIG. 2. Due to the formation in particular of the front walls stacking without jamming is provided which is supported by the elastic splaying out of the side walls. In the arrangement according to FIG. 2 a pizza is in each case placed on the corresponding bottom wall. The open carton can then be removed from the stack without jamming in the cartons located below and closed by means of folding over the lid part, refer also to the engagement of the locking extension 52 in the locking groove 53 according to FIG. 1. In this way pizzas can be continuously placed into appropriate cartons which can be removed from the stack of cartons and then closed. Consequently, less space is required and jamming of the stacked cartons does not occur. 

1. Carton for foodstuffs, in particular for pizzas or similar foodstuffs, with a bottom part (2) and a lid part (3), wherein each of these parts (2, 3) has a front wall (4, 5) and two side walls (6, 7, 8), the bottom part (2) and lid part (3) being joined together pivotably by a rear wall (10) so that these parts (2, 3) are pivotable for opening and closing the carton (1), characterised in that at least one front wall (4, 5) of the bottom part (2) or lid part (3) runs obliquely outwards corresponding to a free end edge (11, 12) of the at least one front wall (4, 5).
 2. Carton according to claim 1, characterised in that both front walls (4, 5) slope outwards by the same angle (13).
 3. Carton according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that an upper recess (14) is formed at least between upper end sections (15, 16) of the front wall (4) of the bottom part (2) and the associated side walls (6, 7).
 4. Carton according to one of the previous claims, characterised in that the upper recess (14) has a width (17), which increases in the direction to the free end edge (11, 12, 18) of the front wall (4) and the side walls (6, 7).
 5. Carton according to one of the previous claims, characterised in that the upper recess (14) is essentially V-shaped.
 6. Carton according to one of the previous claims, characterised in that the front wall (4, 5) has a two-part structure of a first front wall section (20, 22) and a second front wall section (21, 23), wherein the first front wall section (20, 22) is joined pivotably to the bottom or lid part (2, 3) and the second front wall section (21, 23) is joined pivotably to the first front wall section (20, 22).
 7. Carton according to one of the previous claims, characterised in that the side walls (6, 7, 8, 9) have oblique first end edges (24, 25), which are assigned to the front wall (4, 5), wherein an oblique angle (26) of the end edges (24, 25) is essentially equal to the oblique angle (13) of the front wall (4, 5).
 8. Carton according to claim 7, characterised in that the first end edge (24, 25) is joined to an especially inwards folded end lug (27, 28) which abuts an inner side (29) of the first front wall section (20, 22).
 9. Carton according to one of the previous claims, characterised in that a first recess (30, 31) is formed between upper end sections (15, 16) of the end lug (27, 28) and the side wall (6, 7, 8, 9).
 10. Carton according to one of the previous claims, characterised in that a second recess (32, 33) is formed between side edges (34, 35) of the first and second front wall sections (20, 21).
 11. Carton according to one of the previous claims, characterised in that the oblique angle (13, 26) lies in the range from 94° to 110° and preferably in the range from 98° to 104°.
 12. Carton according to one of the previous claims, characterised in that the two front wall sections (20, 21, 22, 23) are joined by means of an articulated strip (19), wherein each of the front wall sections (20, 21, 22, 23) is pivotably joined to a strip edge (38, 39).
 13. Carton according to one of the previous claims, characterised in that a side edge (40, 41) of the articulated strip (19) forms a bottom (59) of the second recess (32, 33).
 14. Carton according to one of the previous claims, characterised in that the side edges of the front wall sections (20, 21, 22, 23) are sloped outwards in the direction towards the second recess (32, 33).
 15. Carton according to one of the previous claims, characterised in that a free longitudinal edge (42) of the second front wall section (21, 23) has at least one protrusion (33) which can be inserted into a groove (44) in the bottom or lid part (2, 3).
 16. Carton according to claim 15, characterised in that the groove (44) extends along a fold line (45) which joins the first front wall section (20, 22) and the bottom or lid part (2, 3).
 17. Carton according to one of the previous claims, characterised in that the bottom part (2) and lid part (3) are both pivotably joined to the rear wall (10).
 18. Carton according to one of the previous claims, characterised in that a rear wall lug (46, 47) is pivotably joined to each sideward rear-wall end edge (48, 49).
 19. Carton according to one of the previous claims, characterised in that the side walls (6, 7, 8, 9) can be especially elastically splayed to the outer side of the carton.
 20. Carton according to one of the previous claims, characterised in that end edges (50, 51) of the side walls (6, 7, 8, 9) are rounded.
 21. Carton according to one of the previous claims, characterised in that the first front wall section (20, 22) of the bottom or lid part (2, 3) has a locking extension (52), which is appropriately aligned to the lid or bottom part (2, 3), when the carton (1) is closed.
 22. Carton according to claim 21, characterised in that the bottom or lid part (2, 3) has a locking groove (53) which is formed for the insertion of the locking extension (52).
 23. Carton according to one of the previous claims, characterised in that the first front wall section (20, 22) has at least one opening (54, 55).
 24. Carton according to one of the previous claims, characterised in that the openings (54, 55) of the first front wall section (20, 22) of the bottom part (2) and of the lid part (3) are essentially aligned to one another when the carton (1) is closed.
 25. Carton according to one of the previous claims, characterised in that the end lugs (27, 28) of the side walls (6, 7, 8, 9) are arranged between the first and second front wall section (20, 21, 22, 23).
 26. Carton according to one of the previous claims, characterised in that the openings (54, 55) in the first front wall section (21, 23) are covered in the direction of the carton interior by the second front wall section (20, 22).
 27. Single-part and essentially two-dimensional blank for the manufacture of a carton according to one of the previous claims. 